This week Waylon Smithers of The Simpsons will come out as gay after 27 years in the closet and the real-life reason for his announcement is heartwarming.
Long time fans of The Simpsons might have already cottoned onto Smithers’ romantic persuasions over the years – his affections for his boss Mr Burns have not gone unnoticed – but just like in real life, coming out has been hard for this cartoon character. However his time for empowerment has come and it’s motivated by a real story close to home for one of the show’s creators.
Veteran Simpson’s writer Rob LaZebnik told the New York Post this week that he was inspired to pen Smithers coming out plot after his own son Johnny told him he was gay.
“I am a Midwestern guy, so I don’t tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve, but I thought what better way to tell my son I love him than to write a cartoon about it?,” LaZebnik said.
While Johnny has never doubted his parents love and support he also told NY Post he found the pop-culture gesture touching.
“The revelation that my father loves me is not much of a revelation, thankfully. He’s unbelievably accepting. We’re as close as a straight dad and a gay son could be.
Adding: “I was the gayest little kid, and my parents knew that. I told them I was interested in a boy. My parents were, like, ‘Yeah, we know.’”
It’s not the first time LaZebnik, 53, has let his son’s dating habits inspire scripts.
As Johnny tells: “[Dad] once sent me an e-mail, and the header was just ‘How does Grindr work?’
“I screenshotted [sic] and Instagrammed it and sent it to all my gay friends because it made me laugh so much.”
We hope Wayon’s big reveal goes just as well as Johnny’s and he is loved and accepted by all his family, friends and most importantly fans who have enjoyed watching him all these years.
